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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - MGF seats

I've just picked up some F seats, I've had a look in the archives and would just like to know what people think is the best idea to fit them

1) Lop off front and rear lugs on MGF runners, re-drill and bolt to the floor

2) As above but use some steel strip bolted across the runners to use the existing mounting holes on the car.

3) (Not seen this done) but perhaps leave the lugs on the MGF runners and bend them to suit the midget floor, this would give about 1 1/2 inch extra height when in the car? Which might?... help a short girlfriend get dazzled less?

Any thoughts?
D Tetley

We used option 2 (but alloy strap not steel).
The F seats are higher than the Midget ones, so i wouldn't recommend option 3. My wife is short and can see better out of the Midget with F seats than she can see out of the Midget with original seats.
Paul Walbran

I was about to say the same thing. Much easier to see there is a driver when Mum is driving my car with 'F seats, than Cam's car without...

Option 3 would result in very little clearance between steering wheel and legs...
A Walbran

I went for option 2, but when I get a bit of time I will pack up front flat 6mm bar by an inch or so as I feel they could do with a bit more support under the thighs. It will obviously reduce the gap between seat and wheel but will improve comfort once your in.

Colin
C Martin

Option 1.
The inboard runner lines up fine with the existing bolt positions. Drilled 2 new holes for the outer runner.
The seat squab is thicker (and more comfy!) than the original so there is no real need to attempt to raise the seat.

I did remove the seat belt anchorage attached to the seat and use the normal body-tub mounted fittings. Also swapped the seats right to left so that the back rake adjuster can be reached down beside the tranny tunnel

Guy
Guy Weller

You've jogged my memory Guy, we swapped the seats side to side and used the original seat belt mounts too.

We've also remembered that we packed the front of the driver's seat for more thigh support by about 1". Originally we did not have this, but after a few years' use we thought about the seat angle and decided to try packing the front. We've found we prefer the packed version.
Paul Walbran

nr 2.

And on Guys suggestion swapped seats to "other" side.
Steel strip on front has a small bracket on so the front of seat raises a little and had the front of the seatfoam enlarged 2 cm upwards to support legs/thighs.
Really comphy seats now!


Arie de Best

4mm steel strips welded across


Arie de Best

side shot


Arie de Best

My wife is also quite short and the fact that she can't see very much through the screen prompts me to maybe fit F seats as described above. My car is a mk3 Sprite, obviously without headrests, so which tonneau would I use with F seats, or would I have to get one specially made? Sounds like a great idea though.

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie, from what I have read the F headrests will actually fit under a normal midget tonneau (with headrests)

Arie, Looking at your bracket/strip across the front mounting, wouldn’t it be easier to use the existing "foot" type brackets on the standard runners? Your bracket looks a similar height at the front, although obviously the mounting holes would be further forward?

So one thing for sure is the rear of the runners have to be bolted directly to the floor, just need to decide on the front now, flat or slightly raised. I’m hoping it can get them in one afternoon, Its actually her xmas present!
D Tetley

Yes, that is what I did. I cut off the extensions at the rear and just bolted down through the last bolt hole in the back of the runner. At the front, I left the "feet" on and bolted through those so the front is raised up just slightly.

Guy
Guy Weller

I didnt use the foot-brackets as i wanted to use the original Midgetseat holes in the floor.
I believe my brackets are just about the same hight as the original foot-brackets.
Without lifting the front the seat would be flat on the floor and i dont believe that would sit very comphy.
Its nice to "lean"over backwards a little.



Arie de Best

Your seats look smart Arie! Where did you get them re-covered?

Guy
Guy Weller

Excellent :) thanks for the pointers, I will now get them in on the first decent weekend (could be a while that!)
D Tetley

Do MGF seats fit into the Midget width-wise? I understand that they are too wide for the MGB so it seems strange that they go into the smaller car.
Mike Howlett

I've got MGB seats in mine. A tight fit but there're definitely more comfy than the originals.

A standard (headrest style) tonneau will still fit OK

David
http://vintageman.zenfolio.com
David Southcott

Slightly off thread, but how far do MGF seats recline?

AndyB
Andy Borris

Mike

It is indeed strange, but the Midget floor is wider than the B. So is the tunnel. The reason is that the extra width in the B is in the sills (about 7" wide each side compared with 2") and the door which protrudes further still. They would in fact fit if it was not for the way the B rear chassis rail intrudes into the floor space a bit behind the seats.

Andy

they recline quite a long way, but in practice in a midget you have the seat fully back or close to it so the bulkhead behind the seats becomes the limiting factor.

We are very pleased with the F seats in the Midget, however note that the rear of the seat is thicker than the originals, so you end up a bit less effective rear adjustment. Might be an issue for tall people, but Arie assures me it's not!
Paul Walbran

I used the no:2 option with ali plates between the runners on my 67 Sprite IV.
The seats, in black leather, are really comforable and supportive.
I found that with the extra height in the seat base my head 'just' brushes the soft top irons. Usually in the morning; I think I must slouch more as the day goes on. My eye line is also very close to the upper screen rail which is a bit inconvenient. I'm 6' tall.
I've just got some springs from Newton Commercial.

www.newtoncomm.co.uk/cars/mgf/products.jsp?ref=1051&type=6

They replace the solid links under the seat squab and allow the seat to sink an extra 10-15mm. I hope that, and a haircut, will help in my case. If not, I shall remove the rear tie bar and bolt directly to the floor.

Mark
M Crossley

Thanks Guy, i had them recovered in holland to save on transportcosts but they couldnt get hold of the right shade of Bisquit leather so i ordered that from PJM UK.
Ive done buisnes with PJM before and can recommend to have contact with them.

You can also order completly upholsterd seats from the MGOC but they are on exchange base only which isnt very convinient as our frames are cut and adjusted to fit a midget/sprite.

In the Healy world its the same as in the mgb-midget, the floor in a big Healy is also smaller then from a sprite so they also have smaller seat/frames, go figure! :)

Im 1.85mtrs length and im fine with the midget and/or mgf seats.
I have them pushed back as far as possible and can still stretch my left leg if i put it next to the clutch pedal.

Not sure if my full tonneau will fit with the new seats as i doubt if the headrest will fit the stiched-on headrestroompockets on the old tonneau.
Top headrest on mgfseats is a little higher then with standard seats.

(Image not correct because of the old mgf brackets not grinded of yet but you kinda get the picture)


Arie de Best

A standard tonneau with headrests may fit all post 66 Spridgets with these seats, but there were no headrests before that and the rear fixing is different, so it looks like I may have to have pockets let into my current tonneau. Got to find some seats first.

Bernie.
b higginson

Just wanted to mention how good the F seats look. Very smart indeed!

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

This thread was discussed between 08/12/2009 and 09/12/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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